Theme: "In Tune" - Each theme clue is a song. The synonym of the first word in each song is hidden inside each theme entry, which defines the remaining part of each theme clue.
23. Friends in Low Places?: DEEP SEA TRENCHES. Dears.
38. Dust in the Wind?: SOPRANO CLARINET. Soot.
54. Party in the U.S.A.?: THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. Do.
77. Dancing in the Street?: SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD. Samba.
91. Crazy in Love?: ABSOLUTELY ADORE. Outre.
110. Down in the Boondocks?: MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. Low.
Just in awe of this theme. So many layers. So much work involved finding workable theme entries. 77A is amazing.
Our blog tags show that this is the Kyle and Dylan's second collaboration. The first one is this themeless Gary blogged last year. Kyle is known for his clean and sparkly themeless grids.
Across:
6. HS course for a future poli-sci major: AP GOV. Also 61. Capitol Hill fig.: POL.
11. "How silly of me!": DOH.
14. Cook brisket, perhaps: SMOKE.
20. Quinceañera accessory: TIARA. So pretty, everything.
21. Singer profiled in the 2022 Netflix documentary "Halftime," familiarly: J. LO. And 85. "__ Kai": Netflix series: COBRA.
22. Ancient manuscript: CODEX.
26. Outkast rapper __ 3000: ANDRE.
27. Org. whose logo features crossed clubs: PGA.
28. Oct. 24 observance: UN DAY.
29. Chemical in bagel-making: LYE.
30. Cream-filled pastries: ECLAIRS.
32. Way off: RANCID.
34. Some truffle hunters: BOARS.
36. Colorado State's sports team: RAMS.
37. Jellicle Ball attendee: CAT. The musical "Cats".
44. Love, in Verona: AMORE.
46. Walking tall: PROUD.
47. Half-inning trio: OUTS.
48. Can opener: TAB.
49. Pixar swimmer: NEMO.
50. Lacking proper punctuation, perhaps: RUN-ON.
51. Delight: AMUSE.
53. School member: FISH.
58. "Am __ blame?": I TO.
59. Presto, musically: FAST.
60. 20s dispensers: ATMS.
62. Amsterdam waterway: CANAL.
64. "Just watch me!": CAN SO.
66. [Crying emoji]: I'M SAD. When I pushed off the wall, I just could not submerge low enough to do the underwater dolphin kicks. Life is hard when you can't sink low.
70. Video art pioneer __ June Paik: NAM. Unknown to me. Wikipedia says he's "considered to be the founder of video art".
72. Licensed transport: TAXI.
73. Train, as a boxer: SPAR.
76. Hilton-owned hotel chain: TRU.
83. Basic ballet move: PLIE.
84. Antibiotic units: DOSES.
86. Central Plains tribe: OTOE.
87. Organ with a hammer: EAR.
88. Foie __: GRAS.
89. Ticket prices?: FINES. Parking ticket.
90. Tons and tons: SLEWS.
95. DOJ agency: ATF.
96. Bench press targets, for short: TRIS.
97. College administrators: DEANS.
98. High-end hair dryers: DYSONS. Very pricey.
101. Flatbread served with dal: PARATHA. And 118. Less spicy, in a way: TAMER. Indian food are a bit spicy for me.
104. Projectile's path: ARC.
105. Beach balls?: LUAUS. 114. Play place?: STAGE. 121. Oyster cracker?: OTTER. 82. Power base?: VOLTS. Fun clues.
108. Noisy fight: ROW.
109. Vessel implant: STENT.
115. To's opposite: FRO.
116. Model/actress Kate: UPTON. She's married to Justin Verlander.
117. "__ mañana": HASTA.
119. Bros: MEN.
120. __ profundo: low voice: BASSO.
Down:
2. Rolex competitor: OMEGA.
3. "Seriously!?": I MEAN COME ON. 16. "Weird, right?": ODD ISN'T IT. I love these two long fill.
4. Maple syrup base: SAP.
5. Like a hotel bathroom, often: EN SUITE.
6. Teeny bit: A TAD.
7. Gyro wrapper: PITA.
8. "Slow Horses" actor Oldman: GARY. My favorite Gary. Gosh, 10 years already.
9. Deposit for processing: ORE.
10. Unit for soccer practice carpool, say: VAN LOAD.
11. Video game with a turntable-shaped controller: DJ HERO.
12. Copa América cry: OLE.
13. Slip 'N Slide need: HOSE.
14. Quantities such as mass and time: SCALARS. Opposite vectors.
15. Address for Hercule Poirot: MON AMI.
17. Steve with nine NBA titles as a player and coach: KERR.
18. Old flames: EXES.
24. Finish: END.
25. The "C" of the CMYK color model: CYAN.
31. Prepare to move, as artwork: CRATE UP.
33. Christmas tune: CAROL.
34. Pop star Mars: BRUNO. Loved his "Just the Way You Are".
35. Scrubs: SCOURS.
38. Root veggies: SPUDS.
39. " ... then again, we could try something else": OR NOT.
40. [It's gone!]: POOF.
41. Ardent desire: LUST.
42. "No sweat!": EASY.
43. "Truthfully," in a text: TBH. To be honest.
44. Shenanigan: ANTIC.
45. Conductor Zubin: MEHTA.
50. Genetic letters: RNA.
51. Many NYC addresses: APTS.
52. Tibetan dumpling: MOMO. Similiar to xiaolongbao.
53. Festival entry: FILM.
55. Major key of Chopin's "Heroic" Polonaise: A FLAT.
56. Spreading fear: PANIC.
57. Bête __: NOIRE.
63. "The Favourite" queen: ANNE.
64. Candy __: CANE.
65. Graph line: AXIS.
67. Minnesota's Paul Bunyan, for one: STATE FOREST. Maybe I should explore the trails there someday.
68. Item in a quiver: ARROW.
69. Bros: DUDES.
71. Wild hurry: MAD RUSH.
72. Threw out: TOSSED.
73. Serious: SOBER.
74. Coach purchase, perhaps: PURSE. Coach bags.
75. __ plancha: Spanish cooking method: A LA.
77. Concrete piece: SLAB.
78. Classic travel trailer: AIR STREAM.
79. Castle defense: MOAT.
80. Sour compounds: ACIDS.
81. One-named Irish singer: BONO. Not ENYA.
83. Test subject for Gregor Mendel: PEA.
88. Nail polish enhancer: GLITTER.
89. Devotees: FAN CLUB.
90. "Oh, really?": SAYS WHO.
92. Mandarin, e.g.: ORANGE. Mandarin oranges were a must for Boomer's fruit salad.
93. "I'll follow you": LEAD ON.
94. Patio spot: YARD.
98. Green owl in a popular language app: DUO.
99. El __: America, in Mexico: NORTE.
100. Necessitate a bleep: SWEAR.
101. Soft "Over here!": PSST.
102. "__ boy!": ATTA.
103. Radio toggle: AM FM.
105. Oodles: LOTS.
106. Sci-fi craft: UFOS.
107. Latin dating word: ANNO.
111. Anger: IRE.
112. AirNow.gov partner: EPA.
113. Prominent part of a beefeater's uniform: HAT.
C.C.
